XC: Sectional Chanmpionships

Western's Maddox Carver ,left adn Kokomo's Connor Frederick push toward the finish line in the boys race of the Logansport Cross Country Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Western won the team title and kokmo was runner-up.
Kelly Lafferty Gerber | Kokomo Tribune

"I’m happy for Obi to be racing again next week in the regional, and we’re looking forward to a strong race," Eastern coach Ben Cox said. "William [Kuntz, 41st] was aiming for a spot at the regional as well. The effort earned him a PR, even though he came up short of qualifying. It was also good for Parker [Smith-McCombs, 93rd] to end his career on a season-best only five seconds from his PR."

For full lists of scoring runners from local teams, see the scoreboard on A10.

GIRLS RACE

Maconaquah won with a score of 39 to dethrone perennial rival Western, which was second with 52. Cass was third (89), Logansport fourth (140), Frankfort fifth (143), Kokomo sixth (178), and Northwestern eighth (191). Eastern, Carroll, and Peru were incomplete.

Zoie Laber led Maconaquah to the team title, taking second in 20:04.4. Lucy Loshnowsky was fifth (20:23.7), Chloe Jordan sixth (20:24.7), Samantha Jones 12th (21:30.3) and Kaytlin Moeller 17th (22:10.9).

Kendall DePoy led Western in third (20:12.8). Mary Claire DiPaola was ninth (20:52), Hattie Harlow 10th (21:09.7), Madelyn Shoaff 14th (21:44.2) and Samantha Williams 19th (22:21).

Cass' Aftin Griffin took first place in 19:22.4. Teammate AnnaLeigh Hedrick was 16th.

The top 15 runners not on an advancing team took individual spots. Northwestern's Courtney Adams (fourth, 20:19.8), Carroll's Jillian Salts (11th, 21:18.3), Carroll's Riley Hayden (15th, 21:56.5), Kokomo's Alaina Thompson (18th, 22:18.6), Peru's Bailey Butt (21st, 22:31.1), Carroll's Audrey Nelson (27th, 23:12.2), Kokomo's Gretchen Riggle (34th, 23:28.1), Northwestern's Ashlyn Kelly (36th, 23:42.4), and Kokomo's Morgan Rakestraw (41st, 24:00) each took spots in the regional.

"I am very proud of our two seniors that are moving on," NW coach Perry said. "Courtney Adams is nearing the end of a fantastic career, taking another top-five finish. She has accomplished so much in her four years. Ashlyn Kelly ran a 40-second season-best to move on. She knew she had to bring something special or it would be her last race. I am so happy for her that her major effort paid off."

Marly Coan led Eastern in 59th (25:46.9).

"I'm really happy for Marly to end the season and her career with a good race," Eastern coach Cox said. "She's a great kid and it's been wonderful to have her on the team. It was also good to see Anna [Groves', 68th] hard work this season pay off with a PR."

UP TO THE CHALLENGE

Prep roundup for Monday, Oct. 21

Western boys, Mac girls win XC sectional championships

Kokomo Tribune September 16, 2024


	UP TO THE CHALLENGE Prep roundup for Monday, Oct. 21 Western boys, Mac girls win XC sectional championships

	Kokomo Tribune September 16, 2024 By Tribune Sports Staff Western's boys and Maconaquah's girls took home the team titles from the IHSAA Logansport Cross Country Sectional on Saturday. On the boys side, along with the Panthers, Kokomo, Maconaquah, Lewis Cass and Northwestern made up the top five and advanced to next Saturday's Brownsburg Regional. In the girls race, Mac was followed by Western, Cass, Logansport and Frankfort in advancing to the Brownsburg Regional. BOYS RACE Western pulled away to the team title with a score of 62. Kokomo was second (108), Maconaquah third (130), Cass fourth (also 130), Northwestern fifth (143), Eastern 11th (267, and Peru 14th (339). Carroll and Taylor were incomplete. Camden Raab led Western to the title, taking second in 16:03.5. Miles Rudy was fourth (16:25.3), Maddox Carver ninth (17:02.5), Beck Bennett 22nd (17:56.9) and Lincoln McKillip 25th (18:23.4). "We felt that Camden and Miles should place in the top five," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "Having two runners placing that highly is a big advantage. Add to that Maddox Carver placing ninth overall and we were the only team to put three runners in the top 10. "Lincoln has been on a mission the last couple weeks. He’s our only varsity senior and when you’re in that position you want to go out on top and he accomplished that this year. After placing 45th last year, he felt like he had something to prove. His sectional goal was to make the top 25 and that’s exactly where he finished." Cooper Cage took eighth to lead Kokomo (16:54.1), Connor Frederick was 10th (17:07) and Preston Arreola 14th (17:18.8). Kokomo posted its best finish since 2013 and advanced for the first time since 2017. "Cooper has been a little under the weather, so he did not place as high as he normally would have, but he gutted it out for the team and still did well despite his circumstances," Kokomo coach Jordan Ousley said. "[Frederick and Arreola] had a great day. Connor ran a PR. Having three guys in the top 20 was important for us as we competed for that second-place finish. "Freshman Reece Wright ran the best race of the season and was our number four runner. Reece ran a PR time and finished in 26th place. His performance cemented our placing and assured us of advancing as a team to the regional. Freshman Leo Serra and senior Gabe Newland had solid races and really pushed past other runners in the last 400 meters to make sure no other team could catch us." Daylen Schrock led Maconaquah in 11th (17:13.2) and Joel Loshnowsky was 19th (17:52.1). Ben Jay led Cass in fifth (16:34.7). Kaiden Hughes was 15th (17:22.8) and Colton Copeland 16th (17:35.6). Mason Broeker was 17th to lead Northwestern (17:38.5) and Ryland Barnes 18th (17:42.3). "I am very proud of the boys team," NW coach Josh Perry said. "We have had setback after setback all season but they put it all together for sectionals. We knew we needed to have a good day and the boys fought hard. "I am very proud of sophomore Bryan Burkhalter [27th]. Bryan is new to cross country and worked very hard all summer to be ready. He spent the entire season battling to come back from an injury and was finally able to run a race near 100 percent. He showed true grit this season and I am glad he earned a second shot at a real race." The top 15 runners not on an advancing team qualified for the regional as individuals. Eastern’s Obi Greene (20th, 17:52.8), Carroll’s Noah Johnson (30th, 18:34.5), and Peru’s Landen Emerson (33rd, 18:46.4) each grabbed a spot in the regional. The cutoff to advance was 36th.		Western's Maddox Carver ,left adn Kokomo's Connor Frederick push toward the finish line in the boys race of the Logansport Cross Country Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Western won the team title and kokmo was runner-up. Kelly Lafferty Gerber \| Kokomo Tribune "I’m happy for Obi to be racing again next week in the regional, and we’re looking forward to a strong race," Eastern coach Ben Cox said. "William [Kuntz, 41st] was aiming for a spot at the regional as well. The effort earned him a PR, even though he came up short of qualifying. It was also good for Parker [Smith-McCombs, 93rd] to end his career on a season-best only five seconds from his PR." For full lists of scoring runners from local teams, see the scoreboard on A10. GIRLS RACE Maconaquah won with a score of 39 to dethrone perennial rival Western, which was second with 52. Cass was third (89), Logansport fourth (140), Frankfort fifth (143), Kokomo sixth (178), and Northwestern eighth (191). Eastern, Carroll, and Peru were incomplete. Zoie Laber led Maconaquah to the team title, taking second in 20:04.4. Lucy Loshnowsky was fifth (20:23.7), Chloe Jordan sixth (20:24.7), Samantha Jones 12th (21:30.3) and Kaytlin Moeller 17th (22:10.9). Kendall DePoy led Western in third (20:12.8). Mary Claire DiPaola was ninth (20:52), Hattie Harlow 10th (21:09.7), Madelyn Shoaff 14th (21:44.2) and Samantha Williams 19th (22:21). Cass' Aftin Griffin took first place in 19:22.4. Teammate AnnaLeigh Hedrick was 16th. The top 15 runners not on an advancing team took individual spots. Northwestern's Courtney Adams (fourth, 20:19.8), Carroll's Jillian Salts (11th, 21:18.3), Carroll's Riley Hayden (15th, 21:56.5), Kokomo's Alaina Thompson (18th, 22:18.6), Peru's Bailey Butt (21st, 22:31.1), Carroll's Audrey Nelson (27th, 23:12.2), Kokomo's Gretchen Riggle (34th, 23:28.1), Northwestern's Ashlyn Kelly (36th, 23:42.4), and Kokomo's Morgan Rakestraw (41st, 24:00) each took spots in the regional. "I am very proud of our two seniors that are moving on," NW coach Perry said. "Courtney Adams is nearing the end of a fantastic career, taking another top-five finish. She has accomplished so much in her four years. Ashlyn Kelly ran a 40-second season-best to move on. She knew she had to bring something special or it would be her last race. I am so happy for her that her major effort paid off." Marly Coan led Eastern in 59th (25:46.9). "I'm really happy for Marly to end the season and her career with a good race," Eastern coach Cox said. "She's a great kid and it's been wonderful to have her on the team. It was also good to see Anna [Groves', 68th] hard work this season pay off with a PR."